“We're going to be out there looking for people carrying guns, and I can guarantee you they're going to get arrested,” Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said.

The department held true to its statement and made three arrests Friday night during the Oshun and Cleopatra parades along the Uptown route. The illegal firearms arrests were made between the hours of 6:30 and 10:00 p.m.

Police said the first of the gun cases was reported at St. Charles Avenue and 8th Street around 6:30 p.m. Another case was reported about an hour later at Melpomene Street and Prytania Avenue.

The third gun case happened around 9:45 p.m. around Erato Street and St. Charles Avenue, where police said two people were shot in February 2012. The injuries were not life-threatening, and both people shot were teenagers. Within minutes, police arrested a third teen in connection with the shooting.

“Our officers were right on top of that case last year as I recall,” Serpas said. “With some good aggressive investigation, we made arrests very quickly.”

Families enjoying the Sparta and Pygmalion parades Saturday night are also keeping safety in mind. Jennifer Correa said she is watching out for beads and keeping an eye on the five young boys at the parades with her.

“We always have one eye in one conversation and one eye on them,” Correa said. “They've been playing football out here, and this is a really safe area.”

David Groom's family lined up to watch the Saturday double-header near Napoleon and Coliseum.

“It gets a little crazy as you get toward Canal Street, so we stay up here a little bit,” Groom said. “We feel pretty safe on the routes up here, we always have. I think the NOPD is doing a great job, but you know there's going to be a couple jerks out there no matter what.”

State law prohibits firearms at all events that require a permit, like a parade or fair. Authorities said the law applies to everyone, even people who have legal conceal carry permits.